The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation on Wednesday (December 15) donated over J$1.5 million to cover exam fees for students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Industrial Technology (Electrical) exams in 2022. 

The grant provides for 399 students from 30 high schools across the island. 

The organisation, in a statement, said its latest grant brings the number of high school students benefitting from the JPS Foundation’s CSEC sponsorship since 2016 to over 2,700. 

The total contribution to the programme over the period has been approximately $10M. The cheque was presented to the Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC), which falls under the Ministry of Education.

Addressing a small gathering at the handover ceremony, Education Minister Fayval Williams thanked the JPS Foundation for their continued corporate outreach and expressed the importance of integrating skills-based learning in the Jamaican education system. 

“This is in sync with the national education objective of making a skills-based course mandatory for all high school students,” said Minister Williams. 

She also noted that, “[The Ministry] has been placing greater emphasis on project-based and problem-solving learning, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) being integrated at all levels.”

JPS Foundation deputy chairman, Ramsay McDonald, speaking at the event, encouraged students to work hard and make the most of their opportunity.  

“The JPS Foundation’s commitment is to provide an opportunity for students, with our CSEC Exam Fee Grant. It is up to you, the students, to make the very best of this opportunity. Even if this is not your ultimate field of study, we believe that your exposure to Industrial Technology at the CSEC level will open your eyes to the ever-expanding possibilities in a changing world,” he remarked.

Examinations Officer for CSEC and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) at the Overseas Examination Commission, Tanjay Holmes, stated that, “The provision of fee grants is indeed giving light and power to the people. An investment that will aid in the sustainable development of our country.” 

Addressing students, he added, “We charge the recipients to make the best use of this investment. Again the OCE commends the JPS Foundation for this invaluable investment in our country’s future: An investment that is powering what matters.”

The JPS Foundation was established in 2012 and is the corporate social responsibility arm of the company, with a particular focus on science and technology education and environmental management.